Manchester United are on the verge of completing the signing of Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera, with the deal to be announced by the end of the week if all goes set to plan.

United are said to have activated Herrera’s release clause of €32 million (£30m), which would have risen to £40m on July 1.

The signing will end a year-long pursuit of the former Spanish under-21 star, who was close to signing for the club last summer under former manager David Moyes. 

United tried desperately to sign Herrera on deadline day but failed, with reports that three people, said to be representing United, had arrived at the Spanish league headquarters for discussions about the proposed switch and then left an hour later apparently unable to complete the paperwork required to finalise the deal.

It subsequently transpired that United, who dealt directly with Athletic, knew nothing of the trio’s existence. 

In the end the deal fell through with Moyes unwilling to pay the release clause which he felt was too high and instead signed Marouane Fellaini for a fee of £27.5m.

But it seems that the United heirarchy have gone back in for the 24-year-old and are now eager to meet Bilbao’s asking price.

Herrera impressed against the Red Devils in 2012 when the Basque club knocked United out of the Europa League.

Key to Bilbao finishing fourth last season, Herrera assited five goals and scored once but has turned down the chance to play in the Champions League next season to join Louis van Gaal’s revolution in Manchester.

Van Gaal is also keen to add Luke Shaw to the United defence next season, with the Manchester club ready to meet Southampton’s valuation for the young left-back.

Saints are reluctant to part with the young defender for anything less than £30m and rejected United’s bid of £27m for Shaw last month. 

New manager Ronald Koeman is keen to keep the defender but Shaw has made it clear he wants to join the 2013 champions.

The deal will see the 18-year-old become the most expensive teenager in the world, beating the £25m fee United paid Everton for Wayne Rooney in 2005.

Out the door for United is Alexander Buttner, who yesterday completed his move to Dynamo Moscow, further strengthening the rumours that Shaw will be a United player come the close of the transfer window.